The Student Knowledge Exchange Project “Take Action! Youth Biodiversity Conservation Leadership Training Scheme” (“Take Action!”) is designed to give Hong Kong's secondary school students a chance to reconnect with nature and become leaders in promoting conservation and environmental education. After five months of classroom and on-field training, 63 local students from 16 different secondary schools around Hong Kong will be graduating as young leaders of local biodiversity conservation, spreading the message of what they have learned to their peers.

“Take Action!” is one of the first programmes of its kind to empower secondary school students to initiate conservation and environmental education work at their own schools. During the Graduation Ceremony, selected students will present their "School Biodiversity Conservation Plans" -- an initiative wholly designed and implemented by students to encourage conservation activities within their school area.

Members of the media are cordially invited to attend the Ceremony. Details are as follows:

Date: June 21, 2014 (Saturday)
Time: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm (Reception and Registration start at 10:00 am)
Venue: Room 3.04, 3/F, Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus, HKU
Language: English

Guests: Professor David Dudgeon (Chair Professor of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, HKU); Professor Peter Hills (Chair Professor, The Kadoorie Institute, HKU); Professor Richard Saunders (Professor, School of Biological Sciences, HKU); Dr Alexandra Cook (Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, HKU); Dr Billy Hau (Vice Chairman, The Conservancy Association; Principal Lecturer, School of Biological Sciences, HKU) and Dr Winnie Law (Assistant Director, The Kadoorie Institute, HKU).

Founded by three postgraduate students from the Faculties of Arts, Science, and Social Sciences, “Take Action!” has the support of the Conservancy Association and has gained recognition from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department as a Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan - Public Awareness and Engagement event. 16 HKU undergraduates who are studying Ecology and Biodiversity served as volunteer tutors for the programme. “Take Action!” is funded by the HKU Student Knowledge Exchange Projects Grant Scheme 2013/14, under the mentorship of Dr Alexandra Cook from the HKU Department of Philosophy.  

For media enquiries, please contact Ms Kathleen Ho (tel: 9882 1094 email: kathleen.hky@gmail.com) or Mr Xoni Ma (tel: 6900 8260 email: xonima33@gmail.com).

Take Action! Official Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/takeactionhk

Take Action! Official Website: www.takeactionhk.wix.com/hku-ke